October 29, 2026

Close to 100,000 signatures collected to challenge late-term abortion expansion law

REGIONAL
Story and photo by Carolee McGrath

Volunteers sorted petitions October 14 at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westfield. The referendum petition drive effort seeks to pause and repeal the late-term abortion expansion law in Massachusetts.

BOSTON – Massachusetts Citizens for Life (MCFL) along with other members of the Compassionate Care Coalition announced at the State House, Thursday, Oct. 29, that the referendum petition drive to pause and potentially repeal the late-term abortion expansion law in Massachusetts was a huge success, with 97,276 signatures collected, far exceeding the required 49,716 signatures. The issue will now be put on the ballot in 2028 for voters to decide and suspended until that time.

The law the legislature crafted under Chapter 188 and signed by Governor Maura Healy in August removes all restrictions on late term abortions past 24-weeks allowing elective abortion up to birth on healthy women and healthy, viable infants. It was slated to go into effect Nov. 8.

“When it seems impossible to reach and serve vulnerable, hurting women, remember that truth paves the road of possibility,” said Myrna Maloney Flynn, president of MCFL and vice chair of the Compassionate Care Coalition. “If you ever think you’re powerless when it comes to protecting the unborn, think again.”

The announcement took place at an already planned Truth About Choice memorial, which represents the 49,450 babies who lost their lives to abortion in Massachusetts in 2024.

The Compassionate Care Coalition is made up of MCFL, Massachusetts Family Action, Massachusetts Family Institute, Democrats for Life of America, and Cape Cod Pro-Life Alliance.

The effort received support from the state’s four Roman Catholic bishops. Bishop William D. Byrne has been a vocal supporter from the beginning.

“I am very excited and not surprised that we succeeded beyond people’s expectations,” said Bishop Byrne. “We collected so many signatures all across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but the people of western Massachusetts and the Diocese of Springfield really came out to support life. I am so grateful to God for this invitation that people responded to, to protect life, especially the unborn,” he said.

Parishes in the Diocese of Springfield held signature petition drives after Mass during October. Father Daniel Pacholec, the director of the Respect Life Office, and pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, led the western Massachusetts effort with his church becoming a central location for parishes to pick up and drop off petitions.

“Though we sometimes feel that our voice for the unborn falls on deaf ears, we are reminded by today’s presentation of almost double the number of signatures needed to repeal the recent abortion law in Massachusetts that we do have a strong pro-life representation here in the Commonwealth,” said Father Pacholec. 

“I am grateful to our pastors, priests, deacons, parish volunteers and petition signers, and most of all to Bishop Byrne, and the other Massachusetts bishops for their strong pastoral leadership that gives us great hope today,” he said.

Final certification by the Secretary of the Commonwealth remains pending. MCFL said they are urging Governor Healey not to attach an emergency preamble to Chapter 188, which could prevent the law’s suspension while the referendum proceeds.

A video version of this story will be featured on Saturday’s edition of “Real to Reel,” which temporarily airs Sunday mornings at 6:30 a.m. on WWLP-22NEWS.